Champ’s Around the World Adventure…begins in Canada!

We’re featuring Champ (not to be confused with Champerina), the famous Build-A-Bear Workshop bear who was created specifically to highlight children’s health and wellness for the Build-A-Bear Workshop Bear Hugs Foundation. Champ was born from the inspiration of a family’s love for a daughter and the daughter’s idea to fund research. Read about Nikki, who lost her battle with cancer but whose legacy lives on in Champ. A dollar from every Champ bear sold goes directly to help fund grants to children’s related approved grant applicants.

Why is that important to know?

We’re sending Champ on an Around the World Adventure to visit children and families who are touched by special needs, not unlike Nikki’s family. Champ gets to visit other countries, hang out with a family for a bit, comfort and befriend and be on his way for a new adventure! The first stop in Champ’s Around the World Adventure sent him to Canada to visit the Sears family.

Dana and Nick have three handsome sons and another boy on the way. Any family with 3 boys is busy and the Sears family is no exception. Joshua is six and has severe, impulsive ADHD, Mason, age 4, was diagnosed with Smith-Magenis syndrome. Mason also has a diagnosis of Autism and severe ADHD and has a problem with swallowing (he aspirates) and his digestive system doesn’t work quite right so Mason is g-tube fed (he has a tube that goes right into his belly for nutrients). He even wears a backpack most of the day to carry the nutrients that go into his body to help him grow. Their youngest, little Carter, doesn’t see his brothers’ challenges; he just knows he loves them!

Their lives are filled with a lot of doctor and therapy appointments. There’s also a lot of love, snuggling and playing. Their daily challenges change, and often, as is the case with most special needs families. Because of this, Dana and Nick have to remain flexible (and patient, persistent and resilient) and have a collective sense of humor. They’ll have you know that not all Canadians live in Igloos and have dog sleds. To them (and a lot of other Canadians) hockey is a pretty important part of life!

Champ went with the kids to doctor appointments, therapy and McDonald’s, where Mason likes to eat a little something. Champ spent hours on the couch with Carter when he was sick and stayed with Josh when he needed some quiet time playing on Mason’s iPad. Champ has become a friend to all of the boys. Mom Dana jokes that he was their happy puppy that isn’t annoying!

They are already big fans of Build-A-Bear Workshop, where they have a family tradition for every birthday when the birthday boy gets to pick out a new friend. They already have several furry friends, so Champ fit right in with their family for his visit! They had to say goodbye to Champ and were sad to do so, but were happy knowing he was going on another adventure to another country 4600 miles away. You’ll never guess where!

Be on the lookout for the next update on Champ’s Around the World Adventure to visit families with children with special needs. He’s bringing more than smiles; he’s offering comfort, friendship and building beary special memories!

Champ came to our house today and here no boys, exept dad Robert! Here we have 3 girls, Sara,16, Hana 11 and Neza 8. Today we will make more easy day, tomorrow while kids are in school ,Champ will help me packing and Thursday early morning we will go … Well u will see where!!!

[…] to the country of Slovenia to visit the Križ family. He arrived from Canada and his visit with the Sears family, where he started his journey. He proudly came holding a Canadian hockey flag, which made the Križ family laugh because they are […]

Friend of the Week

Grandparent’s Day is Sunday, September 8, 2013. We want to send big bear hugs to all the amazing grandparent’s out there who never seem to run out of hugs and kisses for their families. Helen has worked at World Bearquarters since 1998, and she became a grandmother last August when her first grandson, Colton, was […]

Hey, mates! About a month ago we asked you to send in your questions for our pawsome brand ambassador Cody Simpson, and boy did we get some great questions! Now, if you’re already a fan of Cody and his music, you probably know that while he has two albums already, his third album will be […]

Meet Jason, a Sr. Service Desk AnaBEARlyst at World Bearquarters. Jason is a husband, a pastor, and has been a bear for six years, but the role he is most proud of is “Dad.” Shortly after he began working here, he and his wife had their first daughter, Kelsey. She has grown up coming to […]

It’s SpongeBob time! The wait is over! We got tons of fabulous questions for SpongeBob SquarePants and we’re thrilled to share the answers to some of them below. And starting May 17, you can make your own SpongeBob at a Build-A-Bear Workshop store near you or order online. Thanks so much! Enjoy! Question #1: How […]

At Build-A-Bear Workshop, we know families are beary important! Debby and her daughter, Sarah, both work at World Bearquarters in St. Louis. Debby has been a bear for 12 years. When Sarah was younger, she came to work with her mom to help out. Sarah had lots of fun working with her mom and enjoyed […]